Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belongs indeed to all Indians, whatever their religion or ethnic origin, for he is an eternal icon of courage, statesmanship, love for his country, able and honest adminstration. Shivaji was a man for all India: he travelled, thought about, and warred in all parts of India, from Agra, then capital of the Mughal empire to Gingee, all the way down south. He was the first one who understood that India needed a navy if it wanted to control its waters and he did build a formidable one. Shivaji allowed his subjects freedom of religion and opposed forced conversion. One-third of his army was Muslim, as were many of his commanders: his most trusted general in all his campaigns was Haider Ali Kolhari. Shivaji, though he was a staunch Hindu, has respect for the Sufi tradition of Islam and used to pray at the mausoleum of the great Sufi Muslim saint Baba Sharifuddin. Shivaji's feelings are reflected in a letter he wrote to Aurangzeb: "Verily, Islam and Hinduism are terms of contrast. They are used by the true Divine Painter for blending the colours and filling in the outliners. If it is a mosque, the call to prayer is chanted in remembrance of him. If it is a temple, the bells are rung in yearning for him alone." Here is then an ode to a HERO FOR MODERN INDIA - Kireet Joshi - General Editor
